Process for manufacturing golf balls having a multi-layered covers

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a process for making a golf ball having a multi-layered cover including a very thin outermost cover layer, the process comprising for example: forming first and second substantially hemispherical half shells having a thickness and comprising a thermoplastic composition, each half shell further having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming an hemispherical cavity; securing the first half shell in a golf ball mold; securing a core subassembly in a subassembly holder; dispensing an uncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell; inserting a first half of the core subassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell and displacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layer having a thickness; disengaging the core subassembly from the subassembly holder when the thermoset composition has gelled to a point of rigidity; securing the second half shell in a golf ball mold; dispensing the uncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell; inserting a second half of the core subassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell and displacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layer having a thickness and thereby mating the first and second half shells; and curing the thermoset inner cover layer to complete the golf ball and then removing the resulting golf ball from the golf ball mold.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Processes for manufacturing golf balls having multi-layered coversincluding a very thin outermost cover layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf balls are generally divided into two classes: solid and wound.Solid golf balls include a solid core of one or more layers, a cover ofone or more layers, and optionally one or more intermediate layers.Wound golf balls typically include a solid, hollow, or fluid-filledcenter, surrounded by tensioned elastomeric material, and a cover. Solidgolf balls, as compared with wound balls, are more durable andresilient, providing better distance than wound balls due to theirhigher initial velocity upon impact with a club face. Meanwhile, thewound construction provides a softer “feel”, lower compression andhigher spin rate—characteristics often preferred by accomplished golferswho are able to control the ball's flight and positioning.

By altering solid golf ball construction and composition, manufacturerscan vary a wide range of playing characteristics such as resilience,durability, spin, and “feel”, optimizing each according to variousplaying abilities and achieving a solid golf ball possessing feelcharacteristics more like their wound predecessors. For example, byshifting the density (the weight or mass of the golf ball) toward thecenter of the ball, the moment of inertia of the golf ball can bereduced, thereby increasing the initial spin rate of the ball as itleaves the golf club head as a result of the higher resistance from thegolf ball's moment of inertia.

In this regard, core is the “engine” of the golf ball when hit with aclub head. That is, it is the spring of the ball and its principalsource of resiliency. Meanwhile, the intermediate layers based onionomers aid in maintaining initial speed, contribute to desired spinrate, and improve playability/impact durability as well as acting as amoisture barrier to protect the cores from the COR loss. The cover,while originally intended to protect the golf ball from scuffing, mayalso be modified to target a desired spin rate, feel, and playability,even addressing such issues as “lift” and “drag”.

Golf ball manufacturers have sought to incorporate and configurematerials in the core, intermediate layer and/or cover in order improveperformance and achieve desired characteristics. In this regard,multi-layered cover configurations employing a very thin thermoplasticouter cover layer and a much softer thermoset inner cover layer improvedurability, resilience and provide a unique spin profile. See e.g., U.S.2002/0147057 A1 of Binette et al. Heretofore however, such golf ballshave been manufactured via conventional compression or injection moldingprocesses—i.e., molding an inner cover layer over the core and moldingthe outer cover layer over the inner cover layer. Id., infra. Theseprocesses are not well-suited for or adapted for constructing golf ballsincorporating very thin cover layers, as quality control issues ariseincluding poor concentricity, matability and/or contouring between innerand outer cover layers, as well as lack of consistency in cover layerwall thickness.

Retractable pin injection molding (RPIM) or compression molding methodsare the most common methods for molding thermoplastic cover layersaround solid cores. Both processes require heat and pressure to form thecover, the pressure required can cause deformation of the core. Duringthe process of compression molding thin covers, the core is severlydeformed from the pressure exerted by the melting polymer as the moldcloses, causeing a “blow out” of the core. Other issues can be roundnessof the ball, core shifting, and cover concentricity. Similar issuesoccur when trying to mold thin covers using the RPIM process resultingfrom the “pinching” of the core by the retractable pins that center thecore as the molten plastic is injected into the mold under highpressure. Similarly, the issues are “blow out” (exposed cores), coreshifting, out of roundness, and cover concentricity.

Accordingly, there is a need for a golf ball manufacturing process whichaddresses and resolves these manufacturing issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The process of the invention for manufacturing golf balls addresses andsolves the problems identified above, reliably producing golf ballspossessing and displaying concentricity and matability between coverlayers, more consistent cover layer wall thickness, and better overallcontouring between cover layers. One particular benefit of the processof the invention is that respective dimples of inner and outer coverlayers better align with each other and match intimately.

The present invention is therefore directed to a process formanufacturing a golf ball comprising: a first step of forming first andsecond substantially hemispherical half shells having a non-uniformthickness and comprising a thermoplastic composition, each half shellfurther having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surfaceforming an hemispherical cavity; a second step of securing the firsthalf shell in a golf ball mold; a third step of securing a coresubassembly in a subassembly holder; a fourth step of dispensing anuncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity ofthe first half shell; a fifth step of inserting a first half of the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layerhaving a uniform thickness; a sixth step of disengaging the coreassembly from the subassembly holder when the thermoset composition hasgelled to a point of rigidity; a seventh step of securing the secondhalf shell in a golf ball mold; an eighth step of dispensing the uncuredliquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the secondhalf shell; a ninth step of inserting a second half of the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layerhaving a uniform thickness and thereby mating the first and second halfshells; and a tenth step of curing the thermoset inner cover layer tocomplete the golf ball and then removing the resulting golf ball fromthe golf ball mold.

In another embodiment, the process of the invention for manufacturing agolf ball comprises: a first step of forming first and secondsubstantially hemispherical half shells having a uniform thicknesscomprising a thermoplastic composition, each half shell further havingan outer surface and a non-uniformly contoured inner surface, the innersurface forming an hemispherical inner cavity; a second step of securingthe first half shell in a golf ball mold; a third step of securing acore subassembly in a subassembly holder; a fourth step of dispensing anuncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity ofthe first half shell; a fifth step of inserting a first half of the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layerhaving a non-uniform thickness; a sixth step of disengaging the coreassembly from the subassembly holder when the thermoset composition hasgelled to a point of rigidity; a seventh step of securing the secondhalf shell in a golf ball mold; an eighth step of dispensing the uncuredliquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the secondhalf shell; a ninth step of inserting a second half of the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layerhaving a non-uniform thickness and thereby mating the first and secondhalf shells; and a tenth step of curing the thermoset inner cover layerto complete the golf ball and then removing the resulting golf ball fromthe golf ball mold.

In yet another embodiment, the process of the invention formanufacturing a golf ball comprises: a first step of forming first andsecond substantially hemispherical half shells having a uniformthickness comprising a thermoplastic composition, each half shellfurther having an outer surface and a non-uniformly contoured innersurface, the inner surface forming an hemispherical inner cavity; asecond step of securing the first half shell in a golf ball mold; athird step of securing a core subassembly in a subassembly holder; afourth step of dispensing an uncured liquid thermoset composition intothe hemispherical cavity of the first half shell; a fifth step ofinserting a first half of the core subassembly into the hemisphericalcavity of the first half shell and displacing an amount of the uncuredliquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquid thermosetcomposition forms a non-uniformly contoured inner cover layer having auniform thickness; a sixth step of disengaging the core assembly fromthe subassembly holder when the thermoset composition has gelled to apoint of rigidity; a seventh step of securing the second half shell in agolf ball mold; an eighth step of dispensing the uncured liquidthermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the second halfshell; a ninth step of inserting a second half of the core subassemblyinto the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell and displacing anamount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncuredliquid thermoset composition forms a non-uniformly contoured inner coverlayer having a uniform thickness and thereby mating the first and secondhalf shells; and a tenth step of curing the thermoset inner cover layerto complete the golf ball and then removing the resulting golf ball fromthe golf ball mold.

In still another embodiment, the process of the invention formanufacturing a golf ball comprises: a first step of forming first andsecond substantially hemispherical half shells having a uniformthickness comprising a thermoplastic composition, each half shellfurther having a uniformly contoured outer surface and an inner surfacewhich forms an hemispherical cavity; a second step of securing the firsthalf shell in a golf ball mold; a third step of securing a coresubassembly in a subassembly holder; a fourth step of dispensing anuncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity ofthe first half shell; a fifth step of inserting a first half of the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layerhaving a uniformly contoured inner surface and a uniform thickness; asixth step of disengaging the core assembly from the subassembly holderwhen the thermoset composition has gelled to a point of rigidity; aseventh step of securing the second half shell in a golf ball mold; aneighth step of dispensing the uncured liquid thermoset composition intothe hemispherical cavity of the second half shell; a ninth step ofinserting a second half of the core subassembly into the hemisphericalcavity of the second half shell and displacing an amount of the uncuredliquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquid thermosetcomposition forms an inner cover layer having a uniformly contouredinner surface and a uniform thickness, and thereby mating the first andsecond half shells; a tenth step of curing the thermoset inner coverlayer; an eleventh step of forming dimples in the outer surfaces of themated first and second half shells, thereby eliminating the uniformityof the contour of the outer surface of the mated first and second halfshells; and a twelfth step of removing the resulting golf ball from thegolf ball mold.

Alternatively, the process of the invention for manufacturing a golfball may comprise: providing first and second substantiallyhemispherical half shells comprising a thermoplastic composition, eachhalf shell further having a dimpled outer surface and an inner surface,the inner surface forming an hemispherical cavity; dispensing an uncuredliquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the firsthalf shell; providing a core subassembly; inserting a first half of thecore subassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shelland displacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset compositionsuch that the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner coverlayer; dispensing the uncured liquid thermoset composition into thehemispherical cavity of the second half shell; inserting a second halfof the core subassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the second halfshell and displacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermosetcomposition such that the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms aninner cover layer and thereby mating the first and second half shells;and curing the thermoset inner cover layer to complete the golf ball.

In another embodiment, dimples are formed in the half shells after thehalf shells are mated, either before or after the step of curing thethermoset inner cover layer.

The invention is also directed to process for manufacturing a golf ballcomprising: providing first and second substantially hemispherical halfshells comprising a thermoplastic composition, each half shell having anouter surface and an inner surface which forms an hemispherical cavity;dispensing an uncured liquid thermoset composition into thehemispherical cavity of the first half shell; providing a coresubassembly; inserting a first half of the core subassembly into thehemispherical cavity of the first half shell and displacing an amount ofthe uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquidthermoset composition forms a thermoset inner cover layer; dispensingthe uncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavityof the second half shell; inserting a second half of the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms a thermoset innercover layer and thereby mating the first and second half shells; curingthe thermoset inner cover layer; and forming dimples in the outersurfaces of the mated first and second half shells, thereby eliminatingthe uniformity of the contour of the outer surface of the mated firstand second half shells.

Thus, at least the following relationships are possible between thehemispherical half shells (outer cover layer) and the inner cover layerwhen forming a golf ball according to the process of the invention:

-   -   (1) the hemispherical half shells have a non-uniform thickness        and the inner cover layer has a uniform thickness (see FIG. 3        e.g.);    -   (2) the hemispherical half shells have a uniform thickness and a        non-uniformly contoured inner surface, and the inner cover layer        has a non-uniform thickness (see FIG. 4 e.g.);    -   (3) the hemispherical half shells have a uniform thickness and a        non-uniformly contoured inner surface and the inner cover layer        has a uniform thickness and a non-uniformly contoured inner        surface (see FIG. 5, e.g.);    -   (4) prior to being dimpled, the hemispherical half shells have a        uniform thickness and uniformly contoured inner and outer        surfaces, and the inner cover layer has a uniform thickness and        uniformly contoured inner and outer surfaces (see FIG. 6, e.g.);        and    -   (5) the hemispherical half shells have a non-uniform thickness        and the inner cover layer has a non-uniform thickness (see FIG.        7, e.g.).

A process of the invention for manufacturing a golf ball may alsocomprise: a first step of forming first and second substantiallyhemispherical half shells comprising a thermoplastic composition, eachhalf shell having a uniform thickness X, a non-uniformly contoured outersurface comprising a plurality of dimples, each comprising a maximumdepth D_(max), and a non-uniformly contoured inner surface which formsan hemispherical inner cavity; a second step of securing the first halfshell in a golf ball mold; a third step of securing a core subassemblyin a subassembly holder; a fourth step of dispensing an uncured liquidthermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the first halfshell; a fifth step of inserting a first half of the core subassemblyinto the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell and displacing anamount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncuredliquid thermoset composition forms a non-uniformly contoured inner coverlayer having a maximum thickness Y and a minimum thickness Z such thatD_(max)=Y−Z; a sixth step of disengaging the core assembly from thesubassembly holder when the thermoset composition has gelled to a pointof rigidity; a seventh step of securing the second half shell in a golfball mold; an eighth step of dispensing the uncured liquid thermosetcomposition into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell; aninth step of inserting a second half of the core subassembly into thehemispherical cavity of the second half shell and displacing an amountof the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquidthermoset composition forms a a non-uniformly contoured inner coverlayer having a maximum thickness Y and a minimum thickness Z such thatD_(max)=Y−Z, thereby mating the first and second half shells; and atenth step of curing the thermoset inner cover layer to complete thegolf ball and then removing the resulting golf ball from the golf ballmold. See, for example,

FIG. 9.

In another embodiment, the process of the invention for manufacturing agolf ball may comprise: a first step of forming first and secondsubstantially hemispherical half shells comprising a thermoplasticcomposition, each half shell having a non-uniform thickness, anon-uniformly contoured outer surface and a uniformly contoured innersurface which forms an hemispherical inner cavity; each half shellhaving a maximum thickness X′_(max) and a minimum thickness X′_(min)such that X′_(min)=(α%) X′_(max) wherein 50≦a; said non-uniformlycontoured outer surface having a plurality of dimples, each dimplecomprising a maximum depth D_(max), such that D_(max)=X′_(max)−(α%)X′_(max) a second step of securing the first half shell in a golf ballmold; a third step of securing a core subassembly in a subassemblyholder; a fourth step of dispensing an uncured liquid thermosetcomposition into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell; afifth step of inserting a first half of the core subassembly into thehemispherical cavity of the first half shell and displacing an amount ofthe uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquidthermoset composition forms a uniformly contoured inner cover layerhaving a uniform thickness Y wherein X′_(min)≦Y; a sixth step ofdisengaging the core assembly from the subassembly holder when thethermoset composition has gelled to a point of rigidity; a seventh stepof securing the second half shell in a golf ball mold; an eighth step ofdispensing the uncured liquid thermoset composition into thehemispherical cavity of the second half shell; a ninth step of insertinga second half of the core subassembly into the hemispherical cavity ofthe second half shell and displacing an amount of the uncured liquidthermoset composition such that the uncured liquid thermoset compositionforms a uniformly contoured inner cover layer having a uniform thicknessY wherein X′_(min)≦Y, thereby mating the first and second half shells;and a tenth step of curing the thermoset inner layer to complete thegolf ball and then removing the resulting golf ball from the golf ballmold. See, for example, FIG. 10.

In yet another embodiment, the process of the invention formanufacturing a golf ball comprises: providing first and secondsubstantially hemispherical half shells comprising a thermoplasticcomposition, each half shell having a uniform thickness X, anon-uniformly contoured outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples,each comprising a maximum depth D_(max), and a non-uniformly contouredinner surface which forms an hemispherical inner cavity; dispensing anuncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity ofthe first half shell; providing a core subassembly; inserting the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms a non-uniformlycontoured inner cover layer having a maximum thickness Y and a minimumthickness Z such that D_(max)=Y−Z; dispensing the uncured liquidthermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the second halfshell; inserting a second half of the core subassembly into thehemispherical cavity of the second half shell and displacing an amountof the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquidthermoset composition forms a non-uniformly contoured inner cover layerhaving a maximum thickness Y and a minimum thickness Z such thatD_(max)=Y−Z, thereby mating the first and second half shells; and curingthe thermoset inner cover layer to complete the golf ball.

In still another embodiment, the process of the invention formanufacturing a golf ball comprises: providing first and secondsubstantially hemispherical half shells comprising a thermoplasticcomposition, each half shell having a non-uniform thickness, anon-uniformly contoured outer surface uniformly contoured inner surfacewhich forms an hemispherical inner cavity, each half shell having amaximum thickness X′_(max) and a minimum thickness X′_(min) such thatX′_(min)=(α%) X′_(max) wherein 50≦a, said non-uniformly contoured outersurface having a plurality of dimples, each dimple comprising a maximumdepth D_(max), such that D_(max)=X′_(max)−(α%) X′_(max) , dispensing anuncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity ofthe first half shell; providing a core subassembly; inserting the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms a uniformlycontoured inner cover layer having a uniform thickness Y whereinX′_(min)≦Y, dispensing the uncured liquid thermoset composition into thehemispherical cavity of the second half shell; inserting a second halfof the core subassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the second halfshell and displacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermosetcomposition such that the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms auniformly contoured inner cover layer having a uniform thickness Ywherein X′_(min)≦Y, thereby mating the first and second half shells; andcuring the thermoset inner cover layer to complete the golf ball.

In the process of the invention, the substantially hemispherical halfshells comprise an outer (outermost) cover layer. The outer cover layersurrounds the inner cover layer which is disposed within and is adjacentto the outer cover layer. Where the cover comprises three layers, theinner cover layer is an intermediate cover layer, being disposed betweenand adjacent to both the outer cover layer and an innermost cover layer.In a three cover layer embodiment comprising the outer cover layer,inner layer and an innermost cover layer, the innermost cover layer maycomprise either a thermoset or thermoplastic polymer. In the process ofthe invention for forming a three cover layer golf ball, the outermostcover layer is the thinnest cover layer, but the thickness of theinnermost cover layer may be either greater than or less that of theinner cover layer as long as the hardness of the innermost cover layeris greater than that of the hardness of the inner cover layer.

Further, each embodiment of the process of the invention may optionallyinclude additional steps of allowing the uncured thermoset liquid ineach of the first and second hemispherical cavities to partially cure toa selected state of gel before performing the steps of inserting thefirst half and second half of the core subassembly into its respectivehemispherical cavity.

The mated first and second hemispherical half shells form an outer(outermost) cover layer. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer has ahardness of from about 50 Shore D or greater. In another embodiment, theouter cover layer has a hardness of from about 55 Shore D or greater. Inyet another embodiment, the outer cover layer has a hardness of fromabout 60 Shore D or greater.

In one embodiment, the inner cover layer has a hardness of about 58Shore D or lower. In another embodiment, the inner cover layer has ahardness of about 54 Shore D or lower. In yet another embodiment, theinner cover layer has a hardness of about 52 Shore D or lower. In stillanother embodiment, the inner cover layer has a hardness of from about20 Shore D to about 35 Shore D.

In one embodiment, dimples are formed by of the non-uniform contour ofthe outer surface of the outer cover layer. In another embodiment,dimples comprise recesses in the non-uniform contour of the outersurface of the outer cover layer. In yet another embodiment, dimples areformed within the uniform contour of the outer surface of the outercover layer. In still another embodiment, the outer surfaces of thefirst and second hemispherical shells comprise dimples.

In one embodiment, the process of the invention forms a golf ballcomprising dimples having a substantially similar depth. In anotherembodiment, the process of the invention forms a golf ball comprisingdimples having different depths. In yet another embodiment, the processof the invention forms a golf ball comprising first dimples having asubstantially similar depth and second dimples having depths differentthan the depth of the first dimples.

In one embodiment, the dimples have a maximum depth of from about 0.005inches to about 0.015 inches. In another embodiment, the dimples have amaximum depth of from about 0.0067 inches to about 0.0134 inches.

The outer cover layer may have a thickness of from about 0.003 inches toabout 0.030 inches. In another embodiment, the outer cover layer has athickness of from about 0.005 inches to about 0.025 inches. In yetanother embodiment, the outer cover layer has a thickness of from about0.008 inches to about 0.020 inches.

The inner cover layer may have a thickness that is equal to or greaterthan the thickness of the hemispherical shells. In one embodiment, theinner cover layer has a thickness of from about 0.010 inches to about0.110 inches. In another embodiment, the inner cover layer has athickness of from about 0.015 inches to about 0.060 inches. In yetanother embodiment, the inner cover layer has a thickness of from about0.025 inches to about 0.055 inches. In still another embodiment, theinner cover layer has a thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about0.040 inches.

In a three cover layer embodiment, the innermost cover layer may have ahardness of 60 Shore D or greater or even 65 Shore D or greater selectedfrom at least ionomers, polyamindes, polyesters, or blends thereof.

As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, for eachembodiment disclosed herein, the process of the invention formanufacturing a golf ball may include additional steps notdetailed/specified within an embodiment. Alternatively, applications arealso envisioned in which the process of the invention for manufacturinga golf ball “consists essentially of” those steps detailed/specifiedwithin an embodiment. Meanwhile, for certain applications, a process ofthe invention for manufacturing a golf ball may “consist of” only thosesteps detailed/specified within an embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a golf ball manufactured accordingto the process of the invention;

FIG. 2 is one embodiment of a device for manufacturing a golf ballaccording to the process of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an outer portion of a golf ballwhich may be manufactured according to one embodiment of the process ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an outer portion of a golf ballwhich may be manufactured according to another embodiment of the processof the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an outer portion of a golf ballwhich may be manufactured according to still another embodiment of theprocess of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an outer portion of a golf ballwhich may be manufactured according to yet another embodiment of theprocess of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an outer portion of a golf ballwhich may be manufactured according to a different embodiment of theprocess of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an outer portion of a golf ballwhich may be manufactured according to a further embodiment of theprocess of the invention;

FIG. 9 is the cross sectional view of an outer portion of a golf ballwhich may be manufactured according to the process of the invention,detailing one possible relationship between golf ball cover layers; and

FIG. 10 is the cross sectional view of, an outer portion of a golf ballwhich may be manufactured according to the process of the invention,detailing another possible relationship between golf ball cover layers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The cores in golf balls manufactured by the process of this inventionmay be solid, semi-solid, hollow, fluid-filled, or powder-filled.Typically, the cores are solid and made from rubber compositionscontaining at least a base rubber, free-radical initiator agent,cross-linking co-agent, and fillers. Golf balls having variousconstructions may be made in accordance with this invention. Forexample, golf balls having three-piece, four-piece, and five-piececonstructions with dual or three-layered cores and cover materials maybe made The term, “layer” as used herein means generally any sphericalportion of the golf ball. More particularly, in one version, athree-piece golf ball comprising a core and a “dual-cover” is made. Inanother version, a four-piece golf ball comprising a dual-core and“dual-cover” is made. The dual-core includes an inner core (center) andsurrounding outer core layer. The dual-cover includes inner cover andouter cover layers. In yet another construction, a five-piece golf ballhaving a dual-core, intermediate layer, and dual-cover is made. In stillanother embodiment, a four piece golf ball comprises a core and a threelayer cover.

As used herein, the term, “intermediate layer” means a layer of the balldisposed between the core and cover. The intermediate layer may beconsidered an outer core layer, or inner cover layer, or any other layerdisposed between the inner core and outer cover of the ball. Theintermediate layer also may be referred to as a casing or mantle layer.The diameter and thickness of the different layers along with propertiessuch as hardness and compression may vary depending upon theconstruction and desired playing performance properties of the golf balland as specified herein.

The inner core of the golf ball may comprise a polybutadiene rubbermaterial. In one embodiment, the ball contains a single core formed ofthe polybutadiene rubber composition. In a second embodiment, the ballcontains a dual-core comprising an inner core (center) and surroundingouter core layer. In yet another version, the golf ball contains amulti-layered core comprising an inner core, intermediate core layer,and outer core layer.

In general, polybutadiene is a homopolymer of 1,3-butadiene. The doublebonds in the 1,3-butadiene monomer are attacked by catalysts to grow thepolymer chain and form a polybutadiene polymer having a desiredmolecular weight. Any suitable catalyst may be used to synthesize thepolybutadiene rubber depending upon the desired properties. Normally, atransition metal complex (for example, neodymium, nickel, or cobalt) oran alkyl metal such as alkyllithium is used as a catalyst. Othercatalysts include, but are not limited to, aluminum, boron, lithium,titanium, and combinations thereof. The catalysts produce polybutadienerubbers having different chemical structures. In a cis-bondconfiguration, the main internal polymer chain of the polybutadieneappears on the same side of the carbon-carbon double bond contained inthe polybutadiene. In a trans-bond configuration, the main internalpolymer chain is on opposite sides of the internal carbon-carbon doublebond in the polybutadiene. The polybutadiene rubber can have variouscombinations of cis- and trans-bond structures. A preferredpolybutadiene rubber has a 1,4 cis-bond content of at least 40%,preferably greater than 80%, and more preferably greater than 90%. Ingeneral, polybutadiene rubbers having a high 1,4 cis-bond content havehigh tensile strength. The polybutadiene rubber may have a relativelyhigh or low Mooney viscosity.

Examples of commercially available polybutadiene rubbers that can beused in accordance with this invention, include, but are not limited to,BR 01 and BR 1220, available from BST Elastomers of Bangkok, Thailand;SE BR 1220LA and SE BR1203, available from DOW Chemical Co of Midland,Mich.; BUDENE 1207, 1207s, 1208, and 1280 available from Goodyear, Incof Akron, Ohio; BR 01, 51 and 730, available from Japan Synthetic Rubber(JSR) of Tokyo, Japan; BUNA CB 21, CB 22, CB 23, CB 24, CB 25, CB 29MES, CB 60, CB Nd 60, CB 55 NF, CB 70 B, CB KA 8967, and CB 1221,available from Lanxess Corp. of Pittsburgh. Pa.; BR1208, available fromLG Chemical of Seoul, South Korea; UBEPOL BR130B, BR150, BR150B, BR150L,BR230, BR360L, BR710, and VCR617, available from UBE Industries, Ltd. ofTokyo, Japan; EUROPRENE NEOCIS BR 60, INTENE 60 AF and P3OAF, andEUROPRENE BR HV80, available from Polimeri Europa of Rome, Italy; AFDENE50 and NEODENE BR40, BR45, BR50 and BR60, available from Karbochem (PTY)Ltd. of Bruma, South Africa; KBR 01, NdBr 40, NdBR-45, NdBr 60, KBR710S, KBR 710H, and KBR 750, available from Kumho Petrochemical Co.,Ltd. Of Seoul, South Korea; DIENE 55NF, 70AC, and 320 AC, available fromFirestone Polymers of Akron, Ohio; and PBR-Nd Group II and Group III,available from Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Inc. of Nizhnekamsk, TartarstanRepublic.

Suitable polybutadiene rubbers for blending with the base rubber mayinclude BUNA® CB22, BUNA® CB23 and BUNA® CB24, BUNA ® 1203G1, 1220,1221, and BUNA ® CBNd-40, commercially available from LANXESSCorporation; BSTE BR-1220 available from BST Elastomers Co. LTD; UBEPOL®360L and UBEPOL® 150L and UBEPOL-BR rubbers, commercially available fromUBE Industries, Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan; Budene 1207, 1208 and 1280,commercially available from Goodyear of Akron, Ohio; SE BR-1220,commercially available from Dow Chemical Company; Europrene® NEOCIS® BR40 and BR 60, commercially available from Polimeri Europa; and BR 01, BR730, BR 735, BR 11, and BR 51, commercially available from JapanSynthetic Rubber Co., Ltd; and KARBOCHEM® Neodene 40, 45, and 60,commercially available from Karbochem.

The base rubber may further include polyisoprene rubber, natural rubber,ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene diene rubber,styrene-butadiene rubber, and combinations of two or more thereof.Another preferred base rubber is polybutadiene optionally mixed with oneor more elastomers such as polyisoprene rubber, natural rubber, ethylenepropylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber, styrene-butadienerubber, polystyrene elastomers, polyethylene elastomers, polyurethaneelastomers, polyurea elastomers, acrylate rubbers, polyoctenamers,metallocene-catalyzed elastomers, and plastomers. As discussed furtherbelow, highly neutralized acid copolymers (HNPs), as known in the art,also can be used to form the core layer as part of the blend. Suchcompositions will provide increased flexural modulus and toughnessthereby improving the golf ball's performance including its impactdurability. The base rubber typically is mixed with at least onereactive cross-linking co-agent to enhance the hardness of the rubbercomposition. Suitable co-agents include, but are not limited to,unsaturated carboxylic acids and unsaturated vinyl compounds. Apreferred unsaturated vinyl compound is trimethylolpropanetrimethacrylate. The rubber composition is cured using a conventionalcuring process. Suitable curing processes include, for example, peroxidecuring, sulfur curing, high-energy radiation, and combinations thereof.In one embodiment, the base rubber is peroxide cured. Organic peroxidessuitable as free-radical initiators include, for example, dicumylperoxide; n-butyl-4,4-di(t-butylperoxy) valerate;1,1-di(t-butylperoxy)3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane;2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy) hexane; di-t-butyl peroxide;di-t-amyl peroxide; t-butyl peroxide; t-butyl cumyl peroxide;2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexyne-3;di(2-t-butyl-peroxyisopropyl)benzene; dilauroyl peroxide; dibenzoylperoxide; t-butyl hydroperoxide; and combinations thereof. Cross-linkingagents are used to cross-link at least a portion of the polymer chainsin the composition. Suitable cross-linking agents include, for example,metal salts of unsaturated carboxylic acids having from 3 to 8 carbonatoms; unsaturated vinyl compounds and polyfunctional monomers (forexample, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate); phenylene bismaleimide;and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the cross-linkingagent is selected from zinc salts of acrylates, diacrylates,methacrylates, and dimethacrylates. In another particular embodiment,the cross-linking agent is zinc diacrylate (“ZDA”). Commerciallyavailable zinc diacrylates include those selected from Cray ValleyResource Innovations Inc. Other elastomers known in the art may also beadded, such as other polybutadiene rubbers, natural rubber, styrenebutadiene rubber, and/or isoprene rubber in order to further modify theproperties of the core. When a mixture of elastomers is used, theamounts of other constituents in the core composition are typicallybased on 100 parts by weight of the total elastomer mixture.

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) may also be used to modify the propertiesof the core layers, or the uncured core layer stock by blending with theuncured rubber. These TPEs include natural or synthetic balata, or hightrans-polyisoprene, high trans-polybutadiene, or any styrenic blockcopolymer, such as styrene ethylene butadiene styrene,styrene-isoprene-styrene, etc., a metallocene or other single-sitecatalyzed polyolefin such as ethylene-octene, or ethylene-butene, orthermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), including copolymers, e.g. withsilicone. Other suitable TPEs for blending with the thermoset rubbers ofthe present invention include PEBAX®, which is believed to comprisepolyether amide copolymers, HYTREL®, which is believed to comprisepolyether ester copolymers, thermoplastic urethane, and KRATON®, whichis believed to comprise styrenic block copolymers elastomers. Any of theTPEs or TPUs above may also contain functionality suitable for grafting,including maleic acid or maleic anhydride. Any of the ThermoplasticVulcanized Rubbers (TPV) such as Santoprene® or Vibram® or ETPV® can beused along with a present invention. In one embodiment, the TPV has athermoplastic as a continuous phase and a cross-linked rubberparticulate as a dispersed (or discontinuous) phase. In anotherembodiment, the TPV has a cross-linked phase as a continuous phase and athermoplasttic as a dispersed (or discontinuous) phase to providereduced loss in elasticity in order to improve the resiliency of thegolf ball.

The rubber compositions also may contain “soft and fast” agents such asa halogenated organosulfur, organic disulfide, or inorganic disulfidecompounds. Particularly suitable halogenated organosulfur compoundsinclude, but are not limited to, halogenated thiophenols. Preferredorganic sulfur compounds include, but not limited to,pentachlorothiophenol (“PCTP”) and a salt of PCTP. A preferred salt ofPCTP is ZnPCTP. A suitable PCTP is sold by the Struktol Company (Stow,OH) under the tradename, A95. ZnPCTP is commercially available fromEchinaChem (San Francisco, Calif.). These compounds also may function ascis-to-trans catalysts to convert some cis bonds in the polybutadiene totrans bonds. Antioxidants also may be added to the rubber compositionsto prevent the breakdown of the elastomers. Other ingredients such asaccelerators (for example, tetra methylthiuram), processing aids, dyesand pigments, wetting agents, surfactants, plasticizers, as well asother additives known in the art may be added to the rubber composition.

The core may be formed by mixing and forming the rubber compositionusing conventional techniques. These cores can be used to make finishedgolf balls by surrounding the core with outer core layer(s),intermediate layer(s), and/or cover materials as discussed furtherbelow. In another embodiment, the cores can be formed using highlyneutralized polymer (HNP) compositions as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,756,436, 7,030,192, 7,402,629, and 7,517,289. The cores from thehighly neutralized polymer compositions can be further cross-linkedusing any free-radical initiation sources including radiation sourcessuch as gamma or electron beam as well as chemical sources such asperoxides and the like.

Golf balls made in accordance with this invention can be of any size,although the USGA requires that golf balls used in competition have adiameter of at least 1.68 inches and a weight of no greater than 1.62ounces. For play outside of USGA competition, the golf balls can havesmaller diameters and be heavier. A wide variety of thermoplastic orthermosetting materials can be employed in forming the core, coverlayers, or both. These materials include for example, olefin-basedcopolymer ionomer resins (for example, Surlyn® ionomer resins andDuPont® HPF 1000 and HPF 2000, as well as blends ofSurlyn®7940/Surlyn®8940 or Surlyn®8150/Surlyn®9150 commerciallyavailable from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company; Iotek® ionomers,commercially available from ExxonMobil Chemical Company; Amplify® IOionomers of ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, commercially availablefrom The Dow Chemical Company; and Clarix® ionomer resins, commerciallyavailable from A. Schulman Inc.); polyurethanes; polyureas; copolymersand hybrids of polyurethane and polyurea; polyethylene, including, forexample, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, andhigh density polyethylene;

polypropylene; rubber-toughened olefin polymers; acid copolymers, forexample, poly(meth)acrylic acid, which do not become part of anionomeric copolymer; plastomers; flexomers; styrene/butadiene/styreneblock copolymers; styrene/ethylene-butylene/styrene block copolymers;dynamically vulcanized elastomers; copolymers of ethylene and vinylacetates; copolymers of ethylene and methyl acrylates; polyvinylchloride resins; polyamides, poly(amide-ester) elastomers, and graftcopolymers of ionomer and polyimide including, for example, Pebax®thermoplastic polyether block amides, commercially available from ArkemaInc; cross-linked trans-polyisoprene and blends thereof; polyester-basedthermoplastic elastomers, such as Hytrel®, commercially available fromE. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company; polyurethane-based thermoplasticelastomers, such as Elastollan®, commercially available from BASF;synthetic or natural vulcanized rubber; and combinations thereof.

In fact, any of the core, intermediate layer and/or cover layers mayinclude the following materials:

-   -   (1) Polyurethanes, such as those prepared from polyols and        diisocyanates or polyisocyanates and/or their prepolymers;    -   (2) Polyureas; and    -   (3) Polyurethane-urea hybrids, blends or copolymers comprising        urethane and urea segments.

Polyurethanes and polyureas may constitute either thermoset orthermoplastic compositions, depending on the type of crosslinking bondthat is created during formation of the composition. When a polyurethaneor polyurea prepolymer is cross linked with a polyfunctional curingagent, covalent bonding occurs, resulting in a thermoset composition. Incontrast, polyurethanes and polyureas will be thermoplastic where thecrosslinking is due, for example, to hydrogen bonding, resulting inweaker bonds which may be broken upon heating the composition. Thisdistinction explains why thermoset materials generally may not bereclycled or reformed into a different shape by heating (at least noteasily), whereas thermoplastic materials may so be. The process formanufacturing a golf ball according to the invention is particularlywell-suited for forming golf balls having a combination of a very thin,thermoplastic outer cover and a thermoset inner cover having a thicknessgreater than that of the outer cover layer, providing both COR stabilityand playability.

Suitable polyurethane compositions comprise a reaction product of atleast one polyisocyanate and at least one curing agent. The curing agentcan include, for example, one or more polyamines, one or more polyols,or a combination thereof. The polyisocyanate can be combined with one ormore polyols to form a prepolymer, which is then combined with the atleast one curing agent. Thus, the polyols described herein are suitablefor use in one or both components of the polyurethane material, i.e., aspart of a prepolymer and in the curing agent. Suitable polyurethanes aredescribed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0176523, whichis incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Any polyisocyanate available to one of ordinary skill in the art issuitable for use according to the invention. Exemplary polyisocyanatesinclude, but are not limited to, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate(MDI); polymeric MDI; carbodiimide-modified liquid MDI;4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI); p-phenylene diisocyanate(PPDI); m-phenylene diisocyanate (MPDI); toluene diisocyanate (TDI);3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate; isophoronediisocyanate;1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI); naphthalene diisocyanate; xylenediisocyanate; p-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate; m-tetramethylxylenediisocyanate; ethylene diisocyanate; propylene-1,2-diisocyanate;tetramethylene-1,4-diisocyanate; cyclohexyl diisocyanate;dodecane-1,12-diisocyanate; cyclobutane-1,3-diisocyanate;cyclohexane-1,3-diisocyanate; cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate;1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane; methylcyclohexylene diisocyanate; triisocyanate of HDI; triisocyanate of2,4,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexane diisocyanate; tetracene diisocyanate;napthalene diisocyanate; anthracene diisocyanate; isocyanurate oftoluene diisocyanate; uretdione of hexamethylene diisocyanate; andmixtures thereof. Polyisocyanates are known to those of ordinary skillin the art as having more than one isocyanate group, e.g.,di-isocyanate, tri-isocyanate, and tetra-isocyanate. Preferably, thepolyisocyanate includes MDI, PPDI, TDI, or a mixture thereof, and morepreferably, the polyisocyanate includes MDI. It should be understoodthat, as used herein, the term MDI includes 4,4′-diphenylmethanediisocyanate, polymeric MDI, carbodiimide-modified liquid MDI, andmixtures thereof. Additionally, the prepolymers synthesized from thesediisocyanates may be “low free monomer,” understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to have lower levels of “free” isocyanate monomers,typically less than about 0.1% free isocyanate. Examples of “low freemonomer” prepolymers include, but are not limited to Low Free MonomerMDI prepolymers, Low Free Monomer TDI prepolymers, and Low Free MonomerPPDI prepolymers.

Any polyol available to one of ordinary skill in the art is suitable foruse according to the invention. Exemplary polyols include, but are notlimited to, polyether polyols, hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene(including partially/fully hydrogenated derivatives), polyester polyols,polycaprolactone polyols, and polycarbonate polyols. In one preferredembodiment, the polyol includes polyether polyol. Examples include, butare not limited to, polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG),polyethylene propylene glycol, polyoxypropylene glycol, and mixturesthereof. The hydrocarbon chain can have saturated or unsaturated bondsand substituted or unsubstituted aromatic and cyclic groups. Preferably,the polyol of the present invention includes PTMEG.

In another embodiment, polyester polyols are included in thepolyurethane material. Suitable polyester polyols include, but are notlimited to, polyethylene adipate glycol; polybutylene adipate glycol;polyethylene propylene adipate glycol; o-phthalate-1,6-hexanediol;poly(hexamethylene adipate) glycol; and mixtures thereof. Thehydrocarbon chain can have saturated or unsaturated bonds, orsubstituted or unsubstituted aromatic and cyclic groups.

In another embodiment, polycaprolactone polyols are included in thematerials of the invention. Suitable polycaprolactone polyols include,but are not limited to, 1,6-hexanediol-initiated polycaprolactone,diethylene glycol initiated polycaprolactone, trimethylol propaneinitiated polycaprolactone, neopentyl glycol initiated polycaprolactone,1,4-butanediol-initiated polycaprolactone, and mixtures thereof. Thehydrocarbon chain can have saturated or unsaturated bonds, orsubstituted or unsubstituted aromatic and cyclic groups.

In yet another embodiment, polycarbonate polyols are included in thepolyurethane material of the invention. Suitable polycarbonates include,but are not limited to, polyphthalate carbonate and poly(hexamethylenecarbonate) glycol. The hydrocarbon chain can have saturated orunsaturated bonds, or substituted or unsubstituted aromatic and cyclicgroups. In one embodiment, the molecular weight of the polyol is fromabout 200 to about 4000.

Polyamine curatives are also suitable for use in the polyurethanecomposition of the invention and have been found to improve cut, shear,and impact resistance of the resultant balls. Preferred polyaminecuratives include, but are not limited to,3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine and isomers thereof;3,5-diethyltoluene-2,4-diamine and isomers thereof, such as3,5-diethyltoluene-2,6-diamine;4,4′-bis-(sec-butylamino)-diphenylmethane;1,4-bis-(sec-butylamino)-benzene, 4,4′-methylene-bis-(2-chloroaniline);4,4′-methylene-bis-(3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline);polytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoate; N,N′-dialkyldiamino diphenylmethane; p,p′-methylene dianiline; m-phenylenediamine;4,4′-methylene-bis-(2-chloroaniline);4,4′-methylene-bis-(2,6-diethylaniline);4,4′-methylene-bis-(2,3-dichloroaniline);4,4′-diamino-3,3′-diethyl-5,5′-dimethyl diphenylmethane;2,2′,3,3′-tetrachloro diamino diphenylmethane; trimethylene glycoldi-p-aminobenzoate; and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the curing agentof the present invention includes 3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamineand isomers thereof, such as ETHACURE® 300, commercially available fromAlbermarle Corporation of Baton Rouge, La. Suitable polyamine curatives,which include both primary and secondary amines, preferably havemolecular weights ranging from about 64 to about 2000.

At least one of a diol, triol, tetraol, or hydroxy-terminated curativesmay be added to the aforementioned polyurethane composition. Suitablediol, triol, and tetraol groups include ethylene glycol; diethyleneglycol; polyethylene glycol; propylene glycol;

polypropylene glycol; lower molecular weight polytetramethylene etherglycol; 1,3-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy) benzene; 1,3-bis-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy] benzene; 1,3-bis-{2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy) ethoxy] ethoxy}benzene; 1,4-butanediol; 1,5-pentanediol; 1,6-hexanediol;resorcinol-di-(β-hydroxyethyl) ether; hydroquinone-di-(β-hydroxyethyl)ether; and mixtures thereof. Preferred hydroxy-terminated curativesinclude 1,3-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy) benzene; 1,3-bis-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy] benzene; 1,3-bis-{2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy) ethoxy] ethoxy}benzene; 1,4-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, thehydroxy-terminated curatives have molecular weights ranging from about48 to 2000. It should be understood that molecular weight, as usedherein, is the absolute weight average molecular weight and would beunderstood as such by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Both the hydroxy-terminated and amine curatives can include one or moresaturated, unsaturated, aromatic, and cyclic groups. Additionally, thehydroxy-terminated and amine curatives can include one or more halogengroups. The polyurethane composition can be formed with a blend ormixture of curing agents. If desired, however, the polyurethanecomposition may be formed with a single curing agent.

In one embodiment of the present invention, saturated polyurethanes areused to form one or more of the cover layers.

Additionally, polyurethane can be replaced with or blended with apolyurea material. Polyureas are distinctly different from polyurethanecompositions, giving better shear resisitance.

The polyether amine may be blended with additional polyols to formulatecopolymers that are reacted with excess isocyanate to form the polyureaprepolymer. In one embodiment, less than about 30 percent polyol byweight of the copolymer is blended with the saturated polyether amine.In another embodiment, less than about 20 percent polyol by weight ofthe copolymer, preferably less than about 15 percent by weight of thecopolymer, is blended with the polyether amine The polyols listed abovewith respect to the polyurethane prepolymer, e.g., polyether polyols,polycaprolactone polyols, polyester polyols, polycarbonate polyols,hydrocarbon polyols, other polyols, and mixtures thereof, are alsosuitable for blending with the polyether amine. The molecular weight ofthese polymers may be from about 200 to about 4000, but also may be fromabout 1000 to about 3000, and more preferably are from about 1500 toabout 2500.

The polyurea composition can be formed by crosslinking a polyureaprepolymer with a single curing agent or a blend of curing agents. Inone embodiment, the amine-terminated curing agent may have a molecularweight of about 64 or greater. In another embodiment, the molecularweight of the amine-curing agent is about 2000 or less. As discussedabove, certain amine-terminated curing agents may be modified with acompatible amine-terminated freezing point depressing agent or mixtureof compatible freezing point depressing agents

Suitable amine-terminated curing agents include, but are not limited to,ethylene diamine; hexamethylene diamine; 1-methyl-2,6-cyclohexyldiamine; tetrahydroxypropylene ethylene diamine; 2,2,4- and2,4,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine;4,4′-bis-(sec-butylamino)-dicyclohexylmethane;1,4-bis-(sec-butylamino)-cyclohexane;1,2-bis-(sec-butylamino)-cyclohexane; derivatives of4,4′-bis-(sec-butylamino)-dicyclohexylmethane; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethanediamine; 1,4-cyclohexane-bis-(methylamine);1,3-cyclohexane-bis-(methylamine); diethylene glycol di-(aminopropyl)ether; 2-methylpentamethylene-diamine; diaminocyclohexane; diethylenetriamine; triethylene tetramine; tetraethylene pentamine; propylenediamine; 1,3-diaminopropane; dimethylamino propylamine; diethylaminopropylamine; dipropylene triamine; imido-bis-propylamine;monoethanolamine, diethanolamine; 3,5-diethyltoluene-2,4-diamine;triethanolamine; monoisopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine;isophoronediamine; 4,4′-methylenebis-(2-chloroaniline);3,5-dimethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine;3,5-dimethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine; 3,5-diethylthio-2,4-toluenediamine;3,5-diethylthio-2,6-toluenediamine;4,4′-bis-(sec-butylamino)-diphenylmethane and derivatives thereof;1,4-bis-(sec-butylamino)-benzene; 1,2-bis-(sec-butylamino)-benzene;N,N′-dialkylamino-diphenylmethane; N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis (2-hydroxypropyl)ethylene diamine; trimethyleneglycol-di-p-aminobenzoate;polytetramethyleneoxide-di-p-aminobenzoate;4,4′-methylenebis-(3-chloro-2,6-diethyleneaniline);4,4′-methylenebis-(2,6-diethylaniline); meta-phenylenediamine;paraphenylenediamine; and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, theamine-terminated curing agent is4,4′-bis-(sec-butylamino)-dicyclohexylmethane.

Suitable saturated amine-terminated curing agents include, but are notlimited to, ethylene diamine; hexamethylene diamine;1-methyl-2,6-cyclohexyl diamine; tetrahydroxypropylene ethylene diamine;2,2,4- and 2,4,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine;4,4′-bis-(sec-butylamino)-dicyclohexylmethane;1,4-bis-(sec-butylamino)-cyclohexane;1,2-bis-(sec-butylamino)-cyclohexane; derivatives of4,4′-bis-(sec-butylamino)-dicyclohexylmethane; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethanediamine; 4,4′-methylenebis-(2,6-diethylaminocyclohexane;1,4-cyclohexane-bis-(methylamine); 1,3-cyclohexane-bis-(methylamine);diethylene glycol di-(aminopropyl) ether;2-methylpentamethylene-diamine; diaminocyclohexane; diethylene triamine;triethylene tetramine; tetraethylene pentamine; propylene diamine;1,3-diaminopropane; dimethylamino propylamine; diethylamino propylamine;imido-bis-propylamine; monoethanolamine, diethanolamine;triethanolamine; monoisopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine;isophoronediamine; triisopropanolamine; and mixtures thereof. Inaddition, any of the polyether amines listed above may be used as curingagents to react with the polyurea prepolymers.

Alternatively, other suitable polymers include partially or fullyneutralized ionomer, metallocene, or other single-site catalyzedpolymer, polyester, polyamide, non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer,copolyether-esters, copolyether-amides, polycarbonate, polybutadiene,polyisoprene, polystryrene block copolymers (such asstyrene-butadiene-styrene), styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene,styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene, and the like, and blends thereof.

Intermediate layers and/or cover layers may also be formed fromionomeric polymers or ionomer blends such as Surlyn 7940/8940 or Surlyn8150/9150 or from highly-neutralized ionomers (HNP).

In one embodiment, at least one intermediate layer of the golf ball isformed from an HNP material or a blend of HNP materials. The acidmoieties of the HNP's, typically ethylene-based ionomers, are preferablyneutralized greater than about 70%, more preferably greater than about90%, and most preferably at least about 100% with a cation source.Suitable cation sources include metal cations and salts thereof, organicamine compounds, ammonium, and combinations thereof. The HNP's can bealso be blended with a second polymer component, which, if containing anacid group(s) such as organic acids, or more preferably fatty acids, maybe neutralized in a conventional manner, with a suitable cation source.The second polymer component, which may be partially or fullyneutralized, preferably comprises ionomeric copolymers and terpolymers,ionomer precursors, thermoplastics, polyamides, polycarbonates,polyesters, polyurethanes, polyureas, thermoplastic elastomers,polybutadiene rubber, balata, metallocene-catalyzed polymers (graftedand non-grafted), single-site polymers, high-crystalline acid polymers,cationic ionomers, and the like. HNP polymers typically have a materialhardness of between about 20 and about 80 Shore D, and a flexuralmodulus of between about 3,000 psi and about 200,000 psi. In oneembodiment of the present invention the HNP's are ionomers and/or theiracid precursors that are preferably neutralized, either fully orpartially, with sufficient amount of metal base to achieve the desiredneutralization level. The acid copolymers are preferably α-olefin, suchas ethylene, C₃₋₈ α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, such asacrylic and methacrylic acid, copolymers. They may optionally contain asoftening monomer, such as alkyl acrylate and alkyl methacrylate,wherein the alkyl groups have from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

The acid copolymers can be described as E/X/Y copolymers where E isethylene, X is an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and Yis a softening comonomer. In a preferred embodiment, X is acrylic ormethacrylic acid and Y is a C ₁₋₈ alkyl acrylate or methacrylate ester.X is preferably present in an amount from about 1 to about 35 weightpercent of the polymer, more preferably from about 5 to about 30 weightpercent of the polymer, and most preferably from about 10 to about 20weight percent of the polymer. Y is preferably present in an amount fromabout 0 to about 50 weight percent of the polymer, more preferably fromabout 5 to about 25 weight percent of the polymer, and most preferablyfrom about 10 to about 20 weight percent of the polymer.

Specific acid-containing ethylene copolymers include, but are notlimited to, ethylene/acrylic acid/n-butyl acrylate, ethylene/methacrylicacid/n-butyl acrylate, ethylene/methacrylic acid/iso-butyl acrylate,ethylene/acrylic acid/iso-butyl acrylate, ethylene/methacrylicacid/n-butyl methacrylate, ethylene/acrylic acid/methyl methacrylate,ethylene/acrylic acid/methyl acrylate, ethylene/methacrylic acid/methylacrylate, ethylene/methacrylic acid/methyl methacrylate, andethylene/acrylic acid/n-butyl methacrylate. Preferred acid-containingethylene copolymers include, ethylene/methacrylic acid/n-butyl acrylate,ethylene/acrylic acid/n-butyl acrylate, ethylene/methacrylic acid/methylacrylate, ethylene/acrylic acid/ethyl acrylate, ethylene/methacrylicacid/ethyl acrylate, and ethylene/acrylic acid/methyl acrylatecopolymers. The most preferred acid-containing ethylene copolymers are,ethylene/(meth) acrylic acid/n-butyl, acrylate, ethylene/(meth)acrylicacid/ethyl acrylate, and ethylene/(meth) acrylic acid/methyl acrylatecopolymers.

Ionomers are typically neutralized with a metal cation, such as Li, Na,Mg, K, Ca, or Zn. It has been found that by adding sufficient organicacid or salt of organic acid, along with a suitable base, to the acidcopolymer or ionomer, the ionomer can be neutralized, without losingprocessability, to a level much greater than for a metal cation alone.Preferably, the acid moieties are neutralized greater than about 80%,preferably from 90-100%, most preferably 100% without losingprocessability. This is accomplished by melt-blending an ethyleneα,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer, for example,with an organic acid or a salt of organic acid, and adding a sufficientamount of a cation source to increase the level of neutralization of allthe acid moieties (including those in the acid copolymer and in theorganic acid) to greater than 90%, (preferably greater than 100%).

The organic acids may be aliphatic, mono- or multi-functional(saturated, unsaturated, or multi-unsaturated) organic acids. Salts ofthese organic acids may also be employed. The salts of organic acids ofthe present invention include the salts of barium, lithium, sodium,zinc, bismuth, chromium, cobalt, copper, potassium, strontium, titanium,tungsten, magnesium, cesium, iron, nickel, silver, aluminum, tin, orcalcium, salts of fatty acids, particularly stearic, behenic, erucic,oleic, linoelic or dimerized derivatives thereof. It is preferred thatthe organic acids and salts of the present invention be relativelynon-migratory (they do not bloom to the surface of the polymer underambient temperatures) and non-volatile (they do not volatilize attemperatures required for melt-blending).

The ionomers may also be more conventional ionomers, i.e.,partially-neutralized with metal cations. The acid moiety in the acidcopolymer is neutralized about 1 to about 90%, preferably at least about20 to about 75%, and more preferably at least about 40 to about 70%, toform an ionomer, by a cation such as lithium, sodium, potassium,magnesium, calcium, barium, lead, tin, zinc, aluminum, or a mixturethereof.

The golf ball may also contain additives, ingredients, and othermaterials in amounts that do not detract from the properties of thefinal composition. These additive materials include, but are not limitedto, activators such as calcium or magnesium oxide; fatty acids such asstearic acid and salts thereof; fillers and reinforcing agents such asorganic or inorganic particles, for example, clays, talc, calcium,magnesium carbonate, silica, aluminum silicates, zeolites, powderedmetals, and organic or inorganic fibers, plasticizers such as dialkylesters of dicarboxylic acids; surfactants; softeners; tackifiers; waxes;ultraviolet (UV) light absorbers and stabilizers; antioxidants; opticalbrighteners; whitening agents such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide;dyes and pigments; processing aids; release agents; and wetting agents.These compositions provide improved melt processability, and a balanceof ball performance.

Blowing/foaming agents may also be particularly compatible with the golfball produced by the process of the invention, including, for examplethose disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,654. Typical physicalfoaming/blowing agents include volatile liquids such as freons (CFCs),other halogenated hydrocarbons, water, aliphatic hydrocarbons, gases,and solid blowing agents, i.e., compounds that liberate gas as a resultof desorption of gas. Preferably, the blowing agent includes anadsorbent. Typical adsorbents include, for example, activated carbon,calcium carbonate, diatomaceous earth, and silicates saturated withcarbon dioxide.

Chemical foaming/blowing agents may be incorporated. Chemical blowingagents may be inorganic, such as ammonium carbonate and carbonates ofalkalai metals, or may be organic, such as azo and diazo compounds, suchas nitrogen-based azo compounds. Suitable azo compounds include, but arenot limited to, 2,2′-azobis(2-cyanobutane),2,2′-azobis(methylbutyronitrile), azodicarbonamide, p,p′-oxybis(benzenesulfonyl hydrazide), p-toluene sulfonyl semicarbazide, p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide. Other blowing agents include any of the Celogens®,sold by Crompton Chemical Corporation, and nitroso compounds,sulfonylhydrazides, azides of organic acids and their analogs,triazines, tri- and tetrazole derivatives, sulfonyl semicarbazides, ureaderivatives, guanidine derivatives, and esters such as alkoxyboroxines.Other possible blowing agents include agents that liberate gasses as aresult of chemical interaction between components such as mixtures ofacids and metals, mixtures of organic acids and inorganic carbonates,mixtures of nitriles and ammonium salts, and the hydrolyticdecomposition of urea.

Alternatively, low specific gravity can be achieved by incorporating lowdensity fillers or agents such as hollow fillers or microspheres in thepolymeric matrix, where the cured composition has the preferred specificgravity. Moreover, the polymeric matrix can be foamed to decrease itsspecific gravity, microballoons, or other low density fillers asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,380 (“'380 Patent”). The '380 patent isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

Blends including non-ionomeric and olefin-based ionomeric polymers mayalso be incorporated to form a golf ball layer. Examples ofnon-ionomeric polymers include vinyl resins, polyolefins including thoseproduced using a single-site catalyst or a metallocene catalyst,polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, polyphenylenes, polycarbonates,polyesters, polyacrylates, engineering thermoplastics, and the like.Also, in one embodiment of the invention, processability of the golfball of the invention may even be enhanced by incorporating in the corea metallocene-catalyzed polybutadiene.

Olefin-based ionomers, such as ethylene-based copolymers, normallyinclude an unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as methacrylic acid,acrylic acid, or maleic acid. Other possible carboxylic acid groupsinclude, for example, crotonic, maleic, fumaric, and itaconic acid. “Lowacid” and “high acid” olefin-based ionomers, as well as blends of suchionomers, may be used. In general, low acid ionomers are considered tobe those containing 16 wt. % or less of carboxylic acid, whereas highacid ionomers are considered to be those containing greater than 16 wt.% of carboxylic acid. The acidic group in the olefin-based ioniccopolymer is partially or totally neutralized with metal ions such aszinc, sodium, lithium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, manganese, nickel,chromium, copper, or a combination thereof. For example, ionomericresins having carboxylic acid groups that are neutralized from about 10percent to about 100 percent may be used. In one embodiment, the acidgroups are partially neutralized. That is, the neutralization level isfrom 10 to 80%, more preferably 20 to 70%, and most preferably 30 to50%. In another embodiment, the acid groups are highly or fullyneutralized. Or, the neutralization level may be from about 80 to 100%,more preferably 90 to 100%, and most preferably 95 to 100%. The blendmay contain about 5 to about 30% by weight of the moisture barriercomposition and about 95 to about 70% by weight of a partially, highly,or fully-neutralized olefin-based ionomeric copolymer. Theabove-mentioned blends may contain one or more suitable compatibilizerssuch as glycidyl acrylate or glycidyl methacrylate or maleic anhydridecontaining-polymers.

In one embodiment, the overall golf ball produced by the process of theinvention has a compression of from about 25 to about 110. In anotherembodiment, the overall golf ball has a compression of from about 35 toabout 100. In yet another embodiment, the overall golf ball has acompression of from about 45 to about 95. In still another embodiment,the compression may be from about 55 to about 85, or from about 65 toabout 75. Meanwhile, the compression may also be from about 50 to about110, or from about 60 to about 100, or from about 70 to about 90, oreven from about 80 to about 110.

Generally, in golf balls produced by the process of the invention, theoverall golf ball COR is at least about 0.780. In another embodiment,the overall golf ball COR is at least about 0.788. In yet anotherembodiment, the overall golf ball COR is at least about 0.791. In stillanother embodiment, the overall golf ball COR is at least about 0.794.Also, the overall golf ball COR may be at least about 0.797. The overallgolf ball COR may even be at least about 0.800, or at least about 0.803,or at least about 0.812.

The core, intermediate layer(s) and/or cover layers may contain sectionshaving the same hardness or different hardness levels. That is, therecan be uniform hardness throughout the different sections of the core orthere can be hardness gradients across the layers. For example, insingle cores, there may be a hard-to-soft gradient (a “positive”gradient) from the surface of the core to the geometric center of thecore. In other instances, there may be a soft-to-hard gradient (a“negative” gradient) or zero hardness gradient from the core's surfaceto the core's center. For dual core golf balls, the inner core layer mayhave a surface hardness that is less than the geometric center hardnessto define a first “negative” gradient. As discussed above, an outer corelayer may be foiined around the inner core layer, and the outer corelayer may have an outer surface hardness less than its inner surfacehardness to define a second “negative” gradient. In other versions, thehardness gradients from surface to center may be hard-to-soft(“positive”), or soft-to-hard (“negative”), or a combination of bothgradients. In still other versions the hardness gradients from surfaceto center may be “zero” (that is, the hardness values are substantiallythe same.) Methods for making cores having positive, negative, and zerohardness gradients are known in the art as described in, for example,U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,537,530; 7,537,529; 7,427,242; and 7,410,429, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

A golf ball according to the invention may therefore achieve varioushardness gradients therein. For example, the golf ball made by theprocess of the invention may be incorporate a single- solid core havinga “positive” hardness gradient (that is, the outer surface of the coreis harder than its geometric center.) In a second embodiment, the coremay be a dual-core comprising an inner core and a surrounding outer corelayer. The inner core has a “positive” hardness gradient and the outercore layer has a “negative” hardness gradient (that is, the outersurface of the outer core layer is softer than the inner surface of theouter core layer.) Other embodiments of golf balls having variouscombinations of positive, negative, and zero hardness gradients may bemade in accordance with this invention. For example, the inner core mayhave a positive hardness gradient and the outer core layer also may havea positive hardness gradient. In another example, the inner core mayhave a positive hardness gradient and the outer core layer may have a“zero” hardness gradient. (That is, the hardness values of the outersurface of the outer core layer and the inner surface of the outer corelayer are substantially the same.) Particularly, the term, “zerohardness gradient” as used herein, means a surface to center Shore Chardness gradient of less than 8, preferably less than 5 and mostpreferably less than 3 and may have a value of zero or negative 1 tonegative 25. The term, “negative hardness gradient” as used herein,means a surface to center Shore C hardness gradient of less than zero.The terms, zero hardness gradient and negative hardness gradient, may beused herein interchangeably to refer to hardness gradients of negative 1to negative 25. The term, “positive hardness gradient” as used herein,means a surface to center Shore C hardness gradient of 8 or greater,preferably 10 or greater, and most preferably 20 or greater. By theterm, “steep positive hardness gradient” as used herein, it is meantsurface to center Shore C hardness gradient of 20 or greater, morepreferably 25 or greater, and most preferably 30 or greater. Methods formeasuring the hardness of the inner core and surrounding layers anddetermining the hardness gradients are discussed in further detailbelow.

The center hardness of a core is obtained according to the followingprocedure. The core is gently pressed into a hemispherical holder havingan internal diameter approximately slightly smaller than the diameter ofthe core, such that the core is held in place in the hemisphericalportion of the holder while concurrently leaving the geometric centralplane of the core exposed. The core is secured in the holder byfriction, such that it will not move during the cutting and grindingsteps, but the friction is not so excessive that distortion of thenatural shape of the core would result. The core is secured such thatthe parting line of the core is roughly parallel to the top of theholder. The diameter of the core is measured 90 degrees to thisorientation prior to securing. A measurement is also made from thebottom of the holder to the top of the core to provide a reference pointfor future calculations. A rough cut is made slightly above the exposedgeometric center of the core using a band saw or other appropriatecutting tool, making sure that the core does not move in the holderduring this step. The remainder of the core, still in the holder, issecured to the base plate of a surface grinding machine. The exposed‘rough’ surface is ground to a smooth, flat surface, revealing thegeometric center of the core, which can be verified by measuring theheight from the bottom of the holder to the exposed surface of the core,making sure that exactly half of the original height of the core, asmeasured above, has been removed to within 0.004 inches. Leaving thecore in the holder, the center of the core is found with a center squareand carefully marked and the hardness is measured at the center markaccording to ASTM D-2240. Additional hardness measurements at anydistance from the center of the core can then be made by drawing a lineradially outward from the center mark, and measuring the hardness at anygiven distance along the line, typically in 2 mm increments from thecenter. The hardness at a particular distance from the center should bemeasured along at least two, preferably four, radial arms located 180°apart, or 90° apart, respectively, and then averaged. All hardnessmeasurements performed on a plane passing through the geometric centerare performed while the core is still in the holder and without havingdisturbed its orientation, such that the test surface is constantlyparallel to the bottom of the holder, and thus also parallel to theproperly aligned foot of the durometer.

The outer surface hardness of a golf ball layer is measured on theactual outer surface of the layer and is obtained from the average of anumber of measurements taken from opposing hemispheres, taking care toavoid making measurements on the parting line of the core or on surfacedefects, such as holes or protrusions. Hardness measurements are madepursuant to ASTM D-2240 “Indentation Hardness of Rubber and Plastic byMeans of a Durometer.” Because of the curved surface, care must be takento ensure that the golf ball or golf ball subassembly is centered underthe durometer indentor before a surface hardness reading is obtained. Acalibrated, digital durometer, capable of reading to 0.1 hardness unitsmay be used for the hardness measurements. The digital durometer isattached to, and its foot made parallel to, the base of an automaticstand. The weight on the durometer and attack rate conform to ASTMD-2240. In certain embodiments, a point or plurality of points measuredalong the “positive” or “negative” gradients may be above or below aline fit through the gradient and its outermost and innermost hardnessvalues. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the hardest point alonga particular steep “positive” or “negative” gradient may be higher thanthe value at the innermost portion of the inner core (the geometriccenter) or outer core layer (the inner surface)—as long as the outermostpoint (i.e., the outer surface of the inner core) is greater than (for“positive”) or lower than (for “negative”) the innermost point (i.e.,the geometric center of the inner core or the inner surface of the outercore layer), such that the “positive” and “negative” gradients remainintact.

As discussed above, the direction of the hardness gradient of a golfball layer is defined by the difference in hardness measurements takenat the outer and inner surfaces of a particular layer. The centerhardness of an inner core and hardness of the outer surface of an innercore in a single-core ball or outer core layer are readily determinedaccording to the test procedures provided above. The outer surface ofthe inner core layer (or other optional intermediate core layers) in adual-core ball are also readily determined according to the proceduresgiven herein for measuring the outer surface hardness of a golf balllayer, if the measurement is made prior to surrounding the layer with anadditional core layer. Once an additional core layer surrounds a layerof interest, the hardness of the inner and outer surfaces of any inneror intermediate layers can be difficult to determine Therefore, forpurposes of the present invention, when the hardness of the inner orouter surface of a core layer is needed after the inner layer has beensurrounded with another core layer, the test procedure described abovefor measuring a point located 1 mm from an interface is used.

Also, it should be understood that there is a fundamental differencebetween “material hardness” and “hardness as measured directly on a golfball.” For purposes of the present invention, material hardness ismeasured according to ASTM D2240 and generally involves measuring thehardness of a flat “slab” or “button” formed of the material. Surfacehardness as measured directly on a golf ball (or other sphericalsurface) typically results in a different hardness value. The differencein “surface hardness” and “material hardness” values is due to severalfactors including, but not limited to, ball construction (that is, coretype, number of cores and/or cover layers, and the like); ball (orsphere) diameter; and the material composition of adjacent layers, andthickness of the various layers. It also should be understood that thetwo measurement techniques are not linearly related and, therefore, onehardness value cannot easily be correlated to the other. Shore Chardness was measured according to the test methods D-2240.

Several different methods can be used to measure compression, includingAtti compression, Riehle compression, load/deflection measurements at avariety of fixed loads and offsets, and effective modulus. See, e.g.,Compression by Any Other Name, Science and Golf IV, Proceedings of theWorld Scientific Congress of Golf (Eric Thain ed., Routledge, 2002) (“J.Dalton”) The term compression, as used herein, refers to Atti or PGAcompression and is measured using an Atti compression test device. Apiston compresses a ball against a spring and the piston remains fixedwhile deflection of the spring is measured at 1.25 mm (0.05 inches).Where a core has a very low stiffness, the compression measurement willbe zero at 1.25 mm In order to measure the compression of a core usingan Atti compression tester, the core must be shimmed to a diameter of1.680 inches because these testers are designed to measure objectshaving that diameter. Atti compression units can be converted to Riehle(cores), Riehle (balls), 100 kg deflection, 130-10 kg deflection oreffective modulus using the formulas set forth in J. Dalton. Theapproximate relationship that exists between Atti or PGA compression andRiehle compression can be expressed as: (Atti or PGAcompression)=(160-Riehle Compression). Thus, a Riehle compression of 100would be the same as an Atti compression of 60.

COR, as used herein, is determined by firing a golf ball or golf ballsubassembly (e.g., a golf ball core) from an air cannon at two givenvelocities and calculating the COR at a velocity of 125 ft/s. Ballvelocity is calculated as a ball approaches ballistic light screenswhich are located between the air cannon and a steel plate at a fixeddistance. As the ball travels toward the steel plate, each light screenis activated, and the time at each light screen is measured. Thisprovides an incoming transit time period inversely proportional to theball's incoming velocity. The ball impacts the steel plate and reboundsthrough the light screens, which again measure the time period requiredto transit between the light screens. This provides an outgoing transittime period inversely proportional to the ball's outgoing velocity. CORis then calculated as the ratio of the outgoing transit time period tothe incoming transit time period, COR=V_(out)/V_(in)=T_(in)/T_(out).Preferably, a golf ball according to the present invention has a COR ofat least about 0.78, more preferably, at least about 0.80.

The spin rate of a golf ball also remains an important golf ballcharacteristic. High spin rate allows skilled players more flexibilityin stopping the ball on the green if they are able to control a highspin ball. On the other hand, recreational players often prefer a lowspin ball since they do not have the ability to intentionally controlthe ball, and lower spin balls tend to drift less off the green.

Golf ball spin is dependent on variables including, for example,distribution of the density or specific gravity within a golf ball. Forexample, when the center has a higher density or specific gravity thanthe outer layers, a lower moment of inertia results which increases spinrate. Alternatively, when the density or specific gravity isconcentrated in the outer regions of the golf ball, a higher moment ofinertia results with a lower spin rate. The moment of inertia for a golfball of the invention may be from about 0.410 oz-in² to about 0.470oz-in². The moment of inertia for a one piece ball that is 1.62 ouncesand 1.68 inches in diameter may be approximately 0.4572 oz-in², which isthe baseline moment of inertia value.

Accordingly, by varying the materials and the density of the regions ofeach core or cover layer, different moments of inertia may be achievedfor the golf ball of the present invention. In one embodiment, theresulting golf ball has a moment of inertia of from about to 0.440 toabout 0.455 oz-in². In another embodiment, the golf balls of the presentinvention have a moment of inertia of from about 0.456 oz-in² to about0.470 oz-in². In yet another embodiment, the golf ball has a moment ofinertia of from about 0.450 oz-in² to about 0.460 oz-in².

FIG. 1 depicts a golf ball 2 which may be manufactured according to oneembodiment of the process of the invention. In golf ball 2, core 4 issurrounded by innermost cover layer 6, which is surrounded by innercover layer 8, which in turn is surrounded by outer cover layer 10.Innermost cover layer 6 comprises a hard stiff thermoplastic orthermoset polymer and has a hardness of about 60 Shore D or greater.Meanwhile, inner cover layer 8 comprises a thermoset material, and beingthe softest cover layer in either a 2 or 3 cover layer arrangement, hasa hardness of about 58 Shore D or less. The outer cover layer 10 has amaximum thickness of less than about 0.030″ and equal to or less thanthat of the inner layer 8. Outer cover layer 10 has a non-uniformlycontoured outer surface 11, comprises a thermoplastic material and has ahardness of about 50 Shore D or greater. The non-uniformly contouredouter surface 11 comprises dimples 12.

FIG. 2 represents one device for accomplishing the process of theinvention. In FIG. 2, core subassembly perform 14 is secured in coreholding fixture/centering tooling 16. Preformed half shell 18 isfixtured in golf ball mold 20. Liquid thermoset material 22 is dispensedinto half shell 18. Holding fixture 16 is urged toward golf ball mold 20so that a first half 21 of core subassembly perform 14 displaces anamount of liquid thermoset material 22 thereby forming an inner coverlayer which follows the contour of an inner surface 24 of the preformedhalf shell 18. When the inner cover layer is formed to a point ofrigidity, holding fixture 16 is removed, leaving core assembly 14secured in the golf ball mold 20, which becomes the centering toolingfor forming the remainder of the inner cover layer between a secondpreformed half shell and a second half 25 of core subassembly perform14.

Where the process for manufacturing a golf ball forms a three layercover, an innermost half shell (not shown in FIG. 2) may besecured/arranged adjacent the core subassembly perform 14 and then thiscombination urged toward golf ball mold 20 to displace the thermosetliquid 22. In this embodiment, outer surface 27 of core subassemblyperform 14 is uniformly contoured, but embodiments are also envisionedin which outer surface 27 of the core subassembly 14 is non-uniformlycontoured.

FIG. 3 depicts golf ball 28 made according to one embodiment of theprocess of the invention. Inner cover layer 30 is formed within outercover layer 32 and adjacent core 34. Outer cover layer 32 hasnon-uniform thickness 36, an outer surface 38 having a non-uniformcontour, and an inner surface 40 having a uniform contour. Dimples 42are formed within the non-uniform contour of outer surface 38.Meanwhile, inner cover layer 30 has uniform thickness 44 and inner andouter surfaces 46 and 48, respectively, each having a uniform contour.In this embodiment, surface 49 of core 34 is uniformly contoured.

FIG. 4 depicts golf ball 50 made according to one embodiment of theprocess of the invention. Inner cover layer 52 is formed within outercover layer 54 and adjacent core 56. Outer cover layer 54 has uniformthickness 58 and inner and outer surfaces 60 and 62, respectively, eachhaving a non-uniform contour. Dimples 64 are formed within thenon-uniform contour of outer surface 62. Meanwhile, inner cover layer 52has non-uniform thickness 66, an inner surface 68 having a uniformcontour and an outer surface 70 having a non-uniform contour. In thisembodiment, outer surface 72 of core 56 is uniformly contoured.

FIG. 5 depicts golf ball 74 made according to one embodiment of theprocess of the invention. Inner cover layer 76 is formed within outercover layer 78 and adjacent core 80. Outer cover layer 78 has uniformthickness 82 and inner and outer surfaces 84 and 86, respectively, eachhaving a non-uniform contour. Dimples 88 are formed within thenon-uniform contour of outer surface 86. Meanwhile, inner cover layer 76has a uniform thickness 90, and inner and outer surfaces 92 and 94,respectively, each having a non-uniform contour. In this embodiment,outer surface 96 of core 80 is non-uniformly contoured.

FIG. 6 depicts golf ball 98 made according to one embodiment of theprocess of the invention. Inner cover layer 100 is formed within outercover layer 102 and adjacent core 105. Outer cover layer 102 initiallyhas a uniform thickness 104 and uniformly contoured inner and outersurfaces 106 and 107 until dimples 108 are formed within outer surface107 after inner cover layer 100 is formed within the outer cover layer102. Inner cover layer 100 has a uniform thickness 110 and uniformlycontoured inner and outer surfaces 112 and 114, respectively. In thisembodiment, the outer surface 116 of core 105 is uniformly contoured.

FIG. 7 depicts golf ball 118 made according to one embodiment of theprocess of the invention. Inner cover layer 120 is formed within outercover layer 122 and adjacent core 124. Outer cover layer 122 has anon-uniform thickness 126, an outer surface 128 having a non-uniformcontour, and an inner surface 130 having a uniform contour. Dimples 132are formed within the non-uniform contour of outer surface 128.Meanwhile, inner cover layer 120 has a non- uniform thickness 134, aninner surface 136 having a non-uniform contour and an outer surface 138having a uniform contour. In this embodiment, outer surface 140 of core124 is non-uniformly contoured.

FIG. 8 depicts golf ball 142 made according to one embodiment of theprocess of the invention. Inner cover layer 144 is formed within outercover layer 146 and adjacent an innermost cover layer 148, which in turnis adjacent to and surrounds core 150. Each of outer cover layer 146 andinner cover layer 144 have uniform thicknesses 143 and 145. Furthermore,each of inner cover layer 144 and outer cover layer 146 have inner andouter surfaces 147, 149, 151 and 153, respectively, each of which arenon-uniformly contoured. Dimples 152 are formed within the non-uniformcontour of outer surface 153. Meanwhile, innermost cover layer 148 has anon-uniform thickness 154, a uniformly contoured inner surface 156 and anon-uniformly contoured outer surface 158. In this embodiment, outersurface 159 of core 150 is uniformly contoured.

FIGS. 9 and 10 demonstrate some of the relationships which may existbetween cover layers. In FIG. 9, outer cover layer 160 of golf ball 161has a uniform thickness X. Dimples 162, having a maximum thickness Dmax,are disposed within the non-uniform contour of outer surface 164 ofouter cover layer 160. Inner cover layer 166 has a maximum thickness Yand a minimum thickness Z. Thus, in this golf ball,

Dmax+X+Z=X+Y and therefore,

Dmax=Y−Z

Dmax herein may be confirmed according to the procedure detailed in U.S.Pat. No. 7,226,369 of Aoyama et al. (“Aoyama”), hereby incorporated byreference herein, as the distance measured along a ball radius from thephantom surface of the ball to the deepest point on the dimple. SeeAoyama at col. 11, line 64 to col. 12, line 34 and FIG. 7.

In FIG. 10, outer cover layer 168 of golf ball 169 has a maximumthickness X′max and a minimum thickness X′min. Dimples 170 having amaximum thickness Dmax are disposed within the non-uniform contour ofouter surface 172 of outer cover layer 168. Inner cover layer 174 has auniform thickness Y. Thus, in this golf ball,

Y+X′min+Dmax=Y+X′max, and

-   -   where X′min=(a%)(X′max) and 50≦a,    -   then Dmax=Y−Y+X′max−(a%)(X′max) so

Dmax=X′max−(a%)(X′max).

Unless otherwise expressly specified, all of the numerical ranges,amounts, values and percentages such as those for amounts of materials,and others in the specification may be read as if prefaced by the word“about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appear with thevalue, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary,the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attachedclaims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desiredproperties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the veryleast, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine ofequivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter shouldat least be construed in light of the number of reported significantdigits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forththe broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely aspossible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certainerrors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in theirrespective testing measurements. Furthermore, when numerical ranges ofvarying scope are set forth herein, it is contemplated that anycombination of these values inclusive of the recited values may be used.

While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the inventiondisclosed herein fulfill the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, it is appreciated that numerous modifications and otherembodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art. Examples of suchmodifications include reasonable variations of the numerical valuesand/or materials and/or components discussed above. Hence, the numericalvalues stated above and claimed below specifically include those valuesand the values that are approximate to those stated and claimed values.Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intendedto cover all such modifications and embodiments, which would come withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scopeby the specific embodiments herein disclosed, since these embodimentsare intended as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Anyequivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of thisinvention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition tothose shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilledin the art from the foregoing description. For example, the compositionsof the present invention may be used in a variety of equipment. Suchmodifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

While any of the embodiments herein may have any known dimple number andpattern, a preferred number of dimples is 252 to 456, and morepreferably is 328 to 392. The dimples may comprise any width, depth, andedge angle and patterns which satisfy the relationships defined betweencover layers as disclosed herein. The parting line configuration of saidpattern may be either a straight line or a staggered wave parting line(SWPL). In one embodiment, the golf ball has 328, 330, 332, or 392dimples, comprises 5 to 7 dimples sizes, and the parting line is a SWPL.

In any of these embodiments the single-layer core may be replaced with atwo or more layer core wherein at least one core layer has a negativehardness gradient. Other than in the operating examples, or unlessotherwise expressly specified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts,values and percentages such as those for amounts of materials and othersin the specification may be read as if prefaced by the word “about” eventhough the term “about” may not expressly appear with the value, amountor range.

Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parametersset forth in the specification and attached claims are approximationsthat may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to beobtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as anattempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to thescope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least beconstrued in light of the number of reported significant digits and byapplying ordinary rounding techniques.

1. A process for manufacturing a golf ball, comprising: a first step offorming first and second substantially hemispherical half shells havinga non-uniform thickness and comprising a thermoplastic composition, eachhalf shell further having an outer surface and an inner surface, theinner surface forming an hemispherical cavity, a second step of securingthe first half shell in a golf ball mold; a third step of securing acore subassembly in a subassembly holder; a fourth step of dispensing anuncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity ofthe first half shell; a fifth step of inserting a first half of the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layerhaving a uniform thickness; a sixth step of disengaging the coreassembly from the subassembly holder when the thermoset composition hasgelled to a point of rigidity; a seventh step of securing the secondhalf shell in a golf ball mold; an eighth step of dispensing the uncuredliquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the secondhalf shell; a ninth step of inserting a second half of the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layerhaving a uniform thickness and thereby mating the first and second halfshells; a tenth step of curing the thermoset inner cover layer tocomplete the golf ball and then removing the resulting golf ball fromthe golf ball mold.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the step ofmating the first and second hemispherical half shells forms an outercover layer.
 3. The process of claim 2, wherein the outer cover layerhas a hardness of from about 50 Shore D or greater.
 4. The process ofclaim 2, wherein the outer cover layer has a hardness of from about 55Shore D or greater.
 5. The process of claim 2, wherein the outer coverlayer has a hardness of from about 60 Shore D or greater.
 6. The processof claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer has a hardness of about 58Shore D or lower.
 7. The process of claim 1, wherein the inner coverlayer has a hardness of about 54 Shore D or lower.
 8. The process ofclaim 1, wherein the inner cover layer has a hardness of about 52 ShoreD or lower.
 9. The process of claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer hasa hardness of from about 20 Shore D to about 50 Shore D.
 10. The processof claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the first and secondsubstantially hemispherical shells are non-uniformly contoured.
 11. Theprocess of claim 1, wherein the inner surfaces of the substantiallyhemispherical shells are uniformly contoured.
 12. The process of claim1, wherein dimples are formed within the non-uniform contour of theouter surface of the outer cover layer.
 13. The process of claim 12,wherein the dimples have a maximum depth of from about 0.005 inches toabout 0.015 inches.
 14. The process of claim 12, wherein the dimpleshave a maximum depth of from about 0.0067 inches to about 0.0134 inches.15. The process of claim 12, wherein the outer cover layer has athickness of from about 0.003 inches to about 0.030 inches.
 16. Theprocess of claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of the first and secondhemispherical shells comprise dimples.
 17. The process of claim 1,wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness that is equal to orgreater than the thickness of the hemispherical shells.
 18. The processof claim 1, wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness of from about0.010 inches to about 0.110 inches.
 19. The process of claim 1, whereinthe inner cover layer has a thickness of from about 0.015 inches toabout 0.060 inches.
 20. The process of claim 1, wherein the inner coverlayer has a thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.040 inches.21. The process of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material is anionomer.
 22. The process of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic materialis an ionomer blend.
 23. A process for manufacturing a golf ball,comprising: a first step of forming first and second substantiallyhemispherical half shells having a uniform thickness comprising athermoplastic composition, each half shell further having an outersurface and a non-uniformly contoured inner surface, the inner surfaceforming an hemispherical inner cavity; a second step of securing thefirst half shell in a golf ball mold; a third step of securing a coresubassembly in a subassembly holder; a fourth step of dispensing anuncured liquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity ofthe first half shell; a fifth step of inserting a first half of the coresubassembly into the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell anddisplacing an amount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition suchthat the uncured liquid thermoset composition forms a non-uniformlycontoured inner cover layer having a non-uniform thickness; a sixth stepof disengaging the core assembly from the subassembly holder when thethermoset composition has gelled to a point of rigidity; a seventh stepof securing the second half shell in a golf ball mold; an eighth step ofdispensing the uncured liquid thermoset composition into thehemispherical cavity of the second half shell; a ninth step of insertinga second half of the core subassembly into the hemispherical cavity ofthe second half shell and displacing an amount of the uncured liquidthermoset composition such that the uncured liquid thermoset compositionforms a non-uniformly contoured inner cover layer having a non-uniformthickness and thereby mating the first and second half shells; a tenthstep of curing the thermoset inner cover layer to complete the golf balland then removing the resulting golf ball from the golf ball mold.
 24. Aprocess for manufacturing a golf ball, comprising: a first step offorming first and second substantially hemispherical half shells havinga uniform thickness comprising a thermoplastic composition, each halfshell further having an outer surface and a non-uniformly contouredinner surface, the inner surface forming an hemispherical inner cavity;a second step of securing the first half shell in a golf ball mold; athird step of securing a core subassembly in a subassembly holder; afourth step of dispensing an uncured liquid thermoset composition intothe hemispherical cavity of the first half shell; a fifth step ofinserting a first half of the core subassembly into the hemisphericalcavity of the first half shell and displacing an amount of the uncuredliquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquid thermosetcomposition forms a non-uniformly contoured inner cover layer having auniform thickness; a sixth step of disengaging the core assembly fromthe subassembly holder when the thermoset composition has gelled to apoint of rigidity; a seventh step of securing the second half shell in agolf ball mold; an eighth step of dispensing the uncured liquidthermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the second halfshell; a ninth step of inserting a second half of the core subassemblyinto the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell and displacing anamount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncuredliquid thermoset composition forms a non-uniformly contoured inner coverlayer having a uniform thickness and thereby mating the first and secondhalf shells; a tenth step of curing the thermoset inner cover layer tocomplete the golf ball and then removing the resulting golf ball fromthe golf ball mold.
 25. A process for manufacturing a golf ball,comprising: a first step of forming first and second substantiallyhemispherical half shells having a uniform thickness comprising athermoplastic composition, each half shell further having a uniformlycontoured outer surface and an inner surface which forms anhemispherical cavity, a second step of securing the first half shell ina golf ball mold; a third step of securing a core subassembly in asubassembly holder; a fourth step of dispensing an uncured liquidthermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the first halfshell; a fifth step of inserting a first half of the core subassemblyinto the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell and displacing anamount of the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncuredliquid thermoset composition forms an inner cover layer having a uniformthickness; a sixth step of disengaging the core assembly from thesubassembly holder when the thermoset composition has gelled to a pointof rigidity; a seventh step of securing the second half shell in a golfball mold; an eighth step of dispensing the uncured liquid thermosetcomposition into the hemispherical cavity of the second half shell; aninth step of inserting a second half of the core subassembly into thehemispherical cavity of the second half shell and displacing an amountof the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquidthermoset composition forms a inner cover layer having a uniformthickness, and thereby mating the first and second half shells; a tenthstep of curing the thermoset inner cover layer; an eleventh step offorming dimples in the outer surface of the mated first and second halfshells, thereby eliminating the uniformity of the contour of the outersurface of the mated first and second half shells; and a twelfth step ofremoving the resulting golf ball from the golf ball mold.
 26. A processfor manufacturing a golf ball, comprising: providing first and secondsubstantially hemispherical half shells comprising a thermoplasticcomposition, each half shell further having a dimpled outer surface andan inner surface, the inner surface forming an hemispherical cavity,dispensing an uncured liquid thermoset composition into thehemispherical cavity of the first half shell; providing a coresubassembly; inserting a first half of the core subassembly into thehemispherical cavity of the first half shell and displacing an amount ofthe uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquidthermoset composition forms an inner cover layer; dispensing the uncuredliquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the secondhalf shell; inserting a second half of the core subassembly into thehemispherical cavity of the second half shell and displacing an amountof the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquidthermoset composition forms an inner cover layer and thereby mating thefirst and second half shells; and curing the thermoset inner layer tocomplete the golf ball.
 27. A process for manufacturing a golf ball,comprising: providing first and second substantially hemispherical halfshells comprising a thermoplastic composition, each half shell furtherhaving an outer surface and an inner surface which forms anhemispherical cavity, dispensing an uncured liquid thermoset compositioninto the hemispherical cavity of the first half shell; providing a coresubassembly; inserting a first half of the core subassembly into thehemispherical cavity of the first half shell and displacing an amount ofthe uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquidthermoset composition forms an inner cover layer; dispensing the uncuredliquid thermoset composition into the hemispherical cavity of the secondhalf shell; inserting a second half of the core subassembly into thehemispherical cavity of the second half shell and displacing an amountof the uncured liquid thermoset composition such that the uncured liquidthermoset composition forms an inner cover layer and thereby mating thefirst and second half shells; curing the thermoset inner cover layer;and forming dimples in the outer surfaces of the mated first and secondhalf shells.